Endangered Species Bulletin -- November/December 1995

Since well before passage of the Endangered Species Act, natural resource managers and the private sector have faced the daunting challenge of how to reconcile wildlife conservation and society's demand for economic development. In 1982, Congress provided a means in the Act by which both sides can meet this challenge in cases involving endangered species. Known as the Habitat Conservation Plan, or simply the HCP, this approach provides opportunities to explore creative strategies for accommodating the needs of landowners, local communities, and wildlife.

Use of the HCP approach for conflict resolution began slowly, and the concept has not evolved without difficulty and controversy, but HCPs are now widely recognized as an important tool for promoting both long-term habitat protection and compatible land uses. This edition of the Bulletin looks at the HCP experience from various perspectives.

Endangered Species Bulletin. . .November/December 1995 Feature Story